WARREN, Maine — The supervisor of the town’s public works department has been placed on administrative leave after an apparent altercation with the chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
Town Manager Elaine Clark said Wednesday night that she placed public works supervisor Doug Gammon on paid leave as an investigative action, not a disciplinary action.
“It was an inflammatory situation. I thought it was in the best interest of the town to have a cooling-off period for Doug,” she said when asked why she had put Gammon on leave and forbid him from being on town property.
After residents criticized the fact that Gammon was put on leave but Michael York, chairman of the board, was allowed to be at the meeting and on town property, Clark said she had to take action to separate the two, but she has no authority over a selectman.
The town manager said she plans to lift the restriction soon. She said she has tried to talk with Gammon, but he has not been available.
York referred questions to the town manager. He turned over the gavel to Selectman Ed LaFlamme to moderate the Wednesday meeting during discussion of the altercation. Selectmen said they could not comment further pending the conclusion of the manager’s investigation.
Gammon declined comment Wednesday, referring questions to his attorney, Samuel Cohen of Waldoboro. A telephone message was left for Cohen on Wednesday, but he did not immediately respond.
Gammon’s wife, Shelby Gammon, said York came on their property on the afternoon of Nov. 5 to complain about a plow truck being broken down on their property. She said her husband called the Knox County Sheriff’s Office after the altercation. She said a few hours later, her husband was sent a text message by the town manager advising him that he was on leave and could not come on to town property.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Carroll said that the department received a report of a disturbance on Tolman Road involving two people. He said the case remains under investigation and that no charges have been filed.
Selectman William Lufkin said he has researched state laws and found no provision that allows the town manager or board to discipline a selectman. Lufkin said he will be speaking with an attorney later this week on whether there is any law that would cover the matter.
Warren resident Chris Young questioned why a selectman could go on private property and instigate a physical altercation.
Several members of the public asked for York’s resignation, saying it was wrong for him to go on personal property and not leave when asked and for a selectman to be dealing directly with an employee.